ISIS executes British Aid Worker David Haines

The Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) released a video on Sept. 13, which showed the beheading of David Haines, a British aid worker who was kidnapped in March 2013.

According to CNN, the executioner directly addressed British Prime Minister David Cameron, stating, “Your evil alliance with America, which continues to strike the Muslims of Iraq and most recently bombed the Haditha dam, will only accelerate your destruction and claim the role of the obedient lap dog.”

ISIS called this video “a message to the allies of America.” ISIS told the British people that “Cameron will only drag you and your people into another bloody and unwinnable war.”

At the end of the video, the executioner states that British citizen Alan Henning, another aid worker captured by ISIS, will be executed next if the U.K. does not step down from its position as ally to the United States.

David Cameron released a statement saying, “We will do everything in our power to hunt down these murderers and ensure justice, however long that takes.” He also stated that “the murder of David Haines at the hands of [ISIS] will not lead Britain to shirk our responsibility with our allies, to deal with the threat this organization poses.”

After receiving news of the murder of David Haines, President Obama released a statement saying, “The United States stands shoulder-to-shoulder tonight with our close friend and ally in grief and resolve…We will work with the United Kingdom and a broad coalition of nations from the region and around the world to bring the perpetrators of this outrageous act to justice, and to degrade and destroy this threat to the people of our countries, the region and the world.”

When asked about the most recent execution, Air Force veteran intelligence officer and CNN military analyst Ret. Lt. Col. Rick Francona said, “ISIS has just guaranteed British cooperation with the Americans on all phases of what we’re going to be doing…I think this is now a Western fight; it’s not just a U.S. fight.”

This latest execution video came only three days after President Obama’s speech that informed the American people of his intentions to expand airstrikes in Syria and send noncombat troops to Iraq. On Sunday, Sept. 14, NBC confirmed that the United States is officially “at war” with ISIS.

On Friday, Sept. 12, Secretary of State John Kerry visited Cairo, where he met with Egyptian leaders in an attempt to gain greater support for President Obama’s decision to wage war against ISIS. Prior to his meeting in Cairo, Kerry had met with leaders in Saudi Arabia and Arab leaders in Turkey.

David Haines’ brother, Michael, released a statement on behalf of his family. “David was most alive and enthusiastic in his humanitarian roles,” he said. “His joy and anticipation for the work he went to do in Syria is for myself and family the most important element of this whole sad affair.”